Chhota Rajan Faces Death Threat From Chhota Shakeel In Tihar Jail

PTI

SONNY TUMBELAKA via Getty Images

Indian national Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, 55, known in India as Chhota Rajan, is brought out from a holding cell at the Bali police headquarters in Denpasar on Bali island on November 2, 2015. An alleged Indian crime boss wanted in his home country for up to 20 murders has been arrested in Indonesia after two decades on the run, police said October 26. Nikalje had been evading police in several countries for years, with Interpol flagging him as a wanted man back in 1995. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI -- Underworld don Chhota Rajan, deported to India after being caught from Bali in Indonesia in October last year, continues to face death threat even inside the high security Tihar jail where he has been lodged, Delhi Police sources said.

They said an SMS was purportedly sent from the cell phone of Chhota Shakeel, a close aide of fugutive mob boss Dawood Ibrahim, to a senior Tihar jail official threatening to eliminate Chhota Rajan, prompting the senior officer to seek additional security for him.

The SMS was sent from mobile number 971504265138 to the cell phone of Tihar Law Officer Sunil Gupta, threatening 'The End' of Chhota Rajan very soon, sources said. A call had also been received on Tihar's landline number following the SMS after which Rajan's security has been enhanced.

The police has also been informed about the threat call.

"How long will you save this dead pig from death, very soon I will do his the end," the message by "Haji Chhota Shakeel" said.

A Special Cell officer confirmed the receipt of the message by the Tihar official without disclosing anything else.

Gupta had received the SMS in the morning of 24 November last year after which he brought the matter into the knowledge of higher ups and sought security for himself and his family, sources said. The matter is now being investigated by police.

After being on the run for 27 years, Chhota Rajan was arrested in Bali (Indonesia) on 25 October on a Red Corner notice of Interpol.

He was deported and brought to India on 6 November for facing trial in various criminal cases registered against him in Delhi and Mumbai.

In New Delhi he was sent to 14-day judicial custody by a local court and lodged in the high-security Tihar jail on 19 November.

Rajan, once a Dawood Ibrahim confidante, has been brought to the country to face trial in over 70 cases of murder, extortion and drug smuggling.

Ever since his arrival, Rajan has been questioned by various investigating agencies. He has been making claims of having further evidence to nail India's most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and his links with Pakistan's external snooping agency ISI.